Had another one of those, "How far can I see questions?" today. Always amazes me that people ask that question. What they really should ask is "What can I see?" Yesterday was a good example.
I always keep a spotting scope next to my couch in the living room to search for birds outside my large, glass sliding living room door. Thirty yards away is an ash tree. The bark makes for an interested and varied target when viewed through my Nikon 82mm ED. I was casually scanning the surface of the tree when I noticed an ant. At 25x, there was no question it was an ant, even at this distance.
I zoomed in for a closer look. To my scopes credit, at 75x, I could see individual legs and antennae.
How far can I see with the Nikon? On a target as small as an ant body, I could probably see out beyond thirty yards, but probably not at 100 yds. On ant legs, I could see out to thirty yards, but I doubt I could do it at fifty yards, even at 75x.
On something the size of a galaxy? Well, with my scope I can see a little farther - millions of light years, actually. Not bad, considering a light year is about 6 trillion miles.
It's been suggested to me that I ought to have a spotting scope surgically attached to my head as much as I look through one. Antwatching? They could be right.
